Food and You
February 26, 2020 by Lisa Aschenbrenner
Food - it’s hard to not be confused sometimes or maybe even most of the time on what is best to eat and what diet is perfect.
If you feel like there is conflicting information on what diet, or way of eating is best, you are not alone.
I’ve been having some interesting insights the past while personally. As a nutritionist, I read and research and pretty much immerse myself into all sorts of information on foods and nutrients, specifically in regards to health promotion and disease reduction.
You likely either personally have, or know of someone who has tried Keto (high fat, medium meat, low carb), or others who have tried fully plant based vegan, or somewhat in between being vegetarian, paleo, etc. Each person could have found incredible results in weight loss, and hopefully gaining health and energy that they weren’t already experiencing. How can each totally different way of eating result in such amazing results for each person?
We are all different, so different foods affect us all differently. There is no one diet, or way of eating that the whole planet would find to be perfect.
They key is finding what works best for you. Best for you in how you feel, the energy you have, your mood, your weight, your overall well being.
We have many options for food. How do you find what is best for you?
FOOD JOURNAL! Also known as a food log or food diary. This helps you to track what you eat and how that may affect these 4 key areas of your health - mood, sleep, energy, and bowel movements.
Here’s the plan. Log what you eat and how you feel and notice in those 4 key health areas for they day after you eat it. Try first with what you consume right now. Give that a week and really notice what is happening in those area.
Then start to make some small changes. Add in some simple whole foods. Berries at breakfast. Try a meal or 2 without meat, a meal or 2 with no gluten or dairy. Remove nights shades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers) and see if achy joints like arthritis improves.
Try meals which don’t mix too many things and see how you feel after you eat it. Often if a meal makes you feel sluggish or bloated, take a look at what was in there and make some changes.
I have seen it in literally hundreds of people. The food we eat can be directly related to how well or how lousy we feel. It just takes some time to test out food additions and removal and you can be feeling your best as you note what is happening for you.
You can find a number of free templates of food journals online. Be sure to find one, or include you mood, sleep, energy and bowel movement ratings each day as well on your food journal.
What have you got to lose to try a few food swaps and see what things feel like. Try a meatless meal. Remove gluten or dairy for a week, and include other grains and plant based proteins.
Having what works specifically for you, let’s call it the YOU DIET, has the potential to be so much more beneficial than trying something that works for someone you know, but may not create the same results for you. And realize that what works for you today, may change in a few months, based on season, your immune system, digestion strength, and so on.
The ability to notice and adjust foods based on your 4 key areas of health - mood, sleep, energy, and digestion, works best as a life long process. Give it a try and notice how food affects you.
